AMERICANPATRIOT VIEW IN

FULLSCREENCLICK ABOVEFEBRUARY 25, 2010

THE MAN WHO WROTEGOD BLESS AMERICA

COOPERSTOWNVILLAGE OF MUSEUMS

THE NATIONAL PARKS

PETRIFIEDFOREST

AMERICANPATRIOT

MEDAL OF HONOR SERIESVIETNAM VALOR

46

THE NATIONAL PARKSPETRIFIEDFOREST8

IRVING BERLINTHE MAN WHO WROTEGOD BLESS AMERICA

14

Contents

HAMBURGER HISTORY

10

THIS WEEKIN AMERICANHISTORY

NAVY ICONSGET FIRST SALUTE

QUOTE OFTHE WEEK

16 17

COOPERSTOWNVILLAGE OF MUSEUMS

14

12

4 AMERICAN PATRIOT

MEDAL OF HONOR SERIES

VIETNAM VALOR

AMERICAN PATRIOT 5

An Army Green Beret, Howard served five

tours of duty in Vietnam. Incredibly, he was

nominated for the Medal of Honor for three

separate acts of heroism. The actions for

which he was awarded the honor came in

1968. Then-Sgt. Howard was part of a platoon

sent to North Vietnam to rescue another Green

Beret. While leading the patrol, Howard was

injured by a landmine that wounded him and

knocked him unconscious. Upon awakening,

he saw a North Vietnamese soldier using a

flamethrower to torch the bodies of American

and South Vietnamese casualties. As described

by author Peter Collier, who wrote “Medal of

Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of

Duty,” Howard lobbed a grenade at the North

Vietnamese soldier, administered to a wounded

officer nearby, was hit by a bullet which

knocked him down, regained his composure,

and dragged the officer back to the remaining

U.S. Special Forces soldiers while shooting

several of the enemy.

Next, Howard then took charge of the platoon,

organized them into a defensive emplacements

along a ravine, crawled from location to lo-

cation resupplying the men with ammunition

and directing fire, all the while radioing in

support from airborne gunships. After two

days of firefights, the stranded platoon was

finally evacuated. Howard was the last man

to leave the battlefield, according to his Medal

of Honor citation.

During his long military career, Howard received

the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star,

the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion

of Merit, several Bronze Star Medals and Purple

Hearts. President Richard M. Nixon presented

him with the Medal of Honor in 1971. After re-

tiring as a full Colonel, he worked at Veterans

Affairs as a liaison to other veterans, making

trips at home and abroad to battle zones such as

Iraq and Afghanistan to share his experiences.

One of the Vietnam War’s most highly decorated soldiers, Robert LewisHoward, died in late December. Howard received the Congressional Medalof Honor for leading fellow soldiers out of an ambush and helping fight offhundreds of North Vietnamese troops during a two-day siege. Hehad retiredfrom the Army in 1992 with the rank of Colonel, and served as President ofthe Congressional Medal of Honor Society from 2007 to 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR CLICK HERE

6 AMERICAN PATRIOT

THE NATIONAL PARKS

PETRIFIED FOREST

Consisting of two large areas connected by anorth–south corridor, the northern section fea-tures the famous Painted Desert (pictured left)while the southern area includes several majorconcentrations of petrified wood. Throw in severalNative American petroglyph sites, and you haveone of the most intriguing destinations in thevast parks system. The Petrified Forest area wasdesignated a National Monument in 1906 and it,combined with the Painted Desert, became afull-fledged National Park in 1962. The park-land covers 218,533 acres, much of which ishikable, giving visitors access to many surrealwilderness scenes.

The “forest” portion consists of the remains oftrees of the Late Triassic period, which occurred225 million years ago. These “stone trees” werekilled by natural processes, deeply buried in mudand sand that contained silica-rich volcanicash, and the logs became petrified as the min-eral, carried into the wood by groundwater, re-placed the wood cells. As the surroundingmaterial was eroded away over the centuries, thepetrified trees became exposed on the surface.Disturbingly, theft of petrified wood has remaineda problem despite protection. Even with a guardforce of Rangers, fences and warning signs,several tons of fossil wood is stolen every year.

The “painted desert” portion is a colorful fantasy-land of mesa, buttes and badlands. This area iscovered by the Chinle formation, a very soft layer

of earth consisting mainly of mud, sandstone, andvolcanic ash. The softness allows for fantasticerosion effects as well as colorful staining bymineralized water flows and mineral depositsover the eons. The rocks gain their colors fromimpurities and mixtures of elements, from darkblue coal to bright clays to red volcanic rocks.

Why is this park so popular and so important?Though petrified wood can be found aroundthe world, the Petrified Forest National Parkcontains some of the largest and best-preservedpetrified wood sites in the world. More impor-tantly, the combination of the Petrified Forestand the Painted Desert provides an extraordinar-ily diverse fossil record. Finally, the park is alsoknown for having thousands of prehistoric pet-roglyphs and pictographs, which are rock carv-ings and cave paintings left by ancientpeoples. Anthropological research has shownmany of the carvings to be solar calendars.Overall, it is a scenic wonderland.

AMERICAN PATRIOT 7

FIND A NATIONAL PARK

The Petrified Forest National Park sits along Interstate 40 innorthwestern Arizona. Unique among the 58 national parks, thepark features one of the world's largest, most intense, and mostcolorful concentrations of petrified wood.

8 AMERICAN PATRIOT

IRVING BERLINTHE MAN WHO WROTEGOD BLESS AMERICA

AMERICAN PATRIOT 9

Born under the name Israel Isidore Baline in1888, his family immigrated to America to es-cape the violent pogroms in Russia. The familysettled in New York City, where he and his sevensiblings sold newspapers on the street to helpsupport themselves and their mother. Israel be-came a singing waiter and from there began towrite down songs that he made up. Americaniz-ing his name to Irving Berlin, he composed hisfirst big hit — “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” —in 1911 at the age of 23. From that point, he wasprolific and in demand. He wrote several famousmusicals including “Annie Get Your Gun” and“Call Me Madam.” His iconic tunes include“There's No Business Like Show Business,”“Easter Parade,” and “White Christmas.”

Along the way, Berlin indulged his love of countryas a major writer of patriotic songs from WorldWar I through World War 11. In World War 1,he wrote the musical Yip, Yip, Yaphank, whichwas produced by the men of Camp Upton. Inthis musical, the big hit song was “Oh, How IHate to Get Up in the Morning.” This musicalraised money for a service center at the camp.In 1938, he introduced “God Bless America,”sung by Kate Smith, which electrified the coun-try, galvanized the war effort, and became sopopular that many called for it — then andnow — to be named the national anthem. Thesong is a regular feature at most baseball stadi-

ums today, often during the seventh inningstretch. During World War II, Berlin wrote themusical “This is the Army,” which raised $10million for the Army Emergency Relief. It in-cluded such hits as “This is the Army, Mr. Jones”and I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen.”

Berlin was extensively honored for his work. In1942, he won the Academy Award for bestsong for his “White Christmas,” also winningthe Mabel Mercer Award in 1988. In 1955,President Eisenhower presented Berlin a goldmedal for recognition of his services in com-posing patriotic songs for the country. For thelast decade of his life, Berlin made few publicappearances. An exception was made, how-ever, on his 100th birthday at Carnegie Hall,which turned into a huge event. He died at age101 from natural causes.

LISTEN TO KATE SMITH SINGGOD BLESS AMERICA

Irving Berlin, one of America’s great songwriters, started out in poorrural town in Russia, moved to the U.S. at the age of five, and neverstopped appreciating the freedom and safety that his adopted countryprovided. It led him to write some of the most popular patriotic andholiday songs of his time, and any other time.

Nestled in New York's pastoral Otsego County and situated alongside a picturesquelake, the village of Cooperstown is an unspoiled gem of American small town living.Without a doubt, Cooperstown is best known as the proverbial birthplace of Baseballand the home to the sport’s iconic Hall of Fame. Lesser known are themyriad culturalinstitutions, historical sites, and four star accommodations. The village has retainedmuch of its character over the years, owing to the dedication of its two thousandcitizens in pursuit of its preservation. The town itself is a museum of sorts, boastingcarefully preserved Victorian homes, hotels, and public spaces.

10 AMERICAN PATRIOT

COOPERSTOWNVILLAGE OF MUSEUMS

PICTURED ABOVE: STATUE OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

AMERICAN PATRIOT 11

SITES TO SEEThe Fenimore Art MuseumNamed for James Fenimore Cooper, writer and famous

son of Cooperstown (the town was named for his

father), the Fenimore Art Museum boasts a wide

range of American paintings, folk art, textiles, carv-

ings, and more. The Thaw Collection is one of the

America's most comprehensive and valued collections

of Native American art.

The Farmers' MuseumA pitch-perfect recreation of 19th century rural life.

The Farmer's museum exhibits over 23,000 artifacts

and dozens of buildings, many moved from area

farms. Visit the working blacksmith shop, creamery,

papermaking manufactury, and general store.

The Otesaga Resort HotelBuilt in 1909, The Otesaga has been called “the most

complete and luxurious summer hotel in America.”

It remains both a top luxury hotel and a memorial to

the grandeur of turn-of-the-century elegance.

Brewery OmmegangThe Cooperstown area was once home to the vast

majority of Hops production in the late 19th Century.

Brewery Ommegang carries on this tradition and is

a symbol of a food and beverage renaissance in the

area. The microbrewery makes acclaimed Belgian-

style beers. Tours twice daily.

Howe CavernsDiscovered by farmer Lester Howe in 1842, Howe

Caverns is a one hour drive. The Limestone caves are

200 feet below the surface, and feature underground

channels and rivers, passageways and rock formations.

Gondola-style boat rides on the underground Lake of

Venus are available.

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF THEBASEBALL HALL OF FAME

National BaseballHall of Fame and MuseumFrom the first-used baseball to Derek Jeter's bat,to Ebbetts Field seats, to a history of women'sbaseball, the Hall of Fame is the monument toour national pastime. Of particular interest isthe Gallery, which houses Bronze plaques withbiographies of all inductees.

Glimmerglass OperaThe Glimmerglass Opera has become a muchrespected institution in the musical world, per-forming new and lesser-known operas, usuallyin their original language. An international audi-ence is attracted to the unique combination ofrural ambiance and musical virtuosity

US01-1452_8.5x11_Layout 1 11/30/09 10:28 AM Page 2

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Here is the hamburger by the numbers:AMERICANS CONSUME 14 BILLION BURGERS A YEAR

EACH AMERICAN EATS AN AVERAGE OF 3 HAMBURGERS A WEEKHAMBURGERS ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 60% OF ALL THE SANDWICHES EATEN

AMERICA’S FUN FOODS

HAMBURGER HISTORY

How did it turn into theall-American sandwich?

THERE ARE THREE POPULAR THEORIES:

1. Hamburg NY: Two brothers, Frank and Charles

Menches, were selling sausage sandwiches at

the Erie County Fair. They had an overabundance

of ground beef shipped to them bymistake, grilled

the excess beef up into patties, added sugar and

coffee flavoring, and sold the sandwiches as

“hamburgers” in honor of the host town.

2. Athens TX: Fletcher Davis and his wife op-

erated a restaurant. They sold a sandwich of

seasoned ground beef, which was a very popular

lunch item. Some local businessmen chipped in

so that the couple could sell the local delicacy

at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904. They suc-

cessfully sold their sandwich from stand. In

2006, the Texas legislature designating Athens

as "Original Home of the Hamburger.”

3. New Haven CT: In 1895, Louis Lassen had a

sandwich shop called Louis’ Lunch. He cooked

beef patties in small vertical cast iron gas stoves

using steel wire broilers to hold the hamburgers

upright as they cooked. They were served on

toasted white bread. In 2000, when the U. S.

Library of Congress credited Louis' Lunch with

making America's first hamburger.

Whatever the truth of its origins, it is clear that

mass consumption of the fast food hamburger

started with White Castle in 1921. Selling a tiny

hamburger for 5 cents, White Castle inspired

dozens of imitators, most of whom failed. Among

the successes who pushed the burger forward

Wimpy Burger which lasted until 1978, Bob’s

Big Boy which featured double patties, and

myriad drive-ins which accelerated the concept

of fast food. The big breakthrough came in 1948

when the first McDonald's opened and then

was revolutionized by Ray Kroc, who joined the

team in 1954, put in franchise and preparation

procedures that rationalized the fast food busi-

ness, and created the McDonald’s empire. Today,

McDonalds has sold an average of 12 hamburg-

ers to every man, woman and child in the world.

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The seemingly simple sandwich has become so ingrained in our society, thatit's impossible to think of American cuisine and culture without it. There's a lotof controversy when it comes to who served the first commercial hamburger.But there is no such controversy over the source of the name: in the German cityof Hamburg, people often cooked various scraps of meat and placed them on around bun or roll. When German immigrants arrived in America, they continuedthis custom and these sandwiches became known as “hamburgers.”

14 AMERICAN PATRIOT

Four revered U.S. Navy heroes were honored with a First Class salute. The

U.S. Postal Service dedicated the Distinguished Sailors collectable stamps to

immortalize four sailors who served with bravery and distinction during the

20th Century: William S. Sims, Arleigh A. Burke, John McCloy and Doris

“Dorie” Miller. The dedication ceremony took place today at the United States

Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. The stamps, designed by Phil Jordan of

Falls Church, VA, are based on photographs from Navy archives. Text along

the top of the stamp sheet identifies the four sailors, the approximate date of

each photograph, and a ship named in honor of each sailor.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE FEATS FOR WHICH THEY WERE HONORED.

NAVY ICONSGET FIRST CLASS SALUTE

William S. SimsCommander of U.S. naval forces in European waters

during World War I, Sims was an outspoken reformer

and innovator who helped shape the Navy into a

modern fighting force. Frustrated by the Navy bureau-

cracy, he circumvented his superiors to get the Navy

to adopt improved gunfire techniques that increased

firing accuracy as ships rolled through ocean swells.

He also is noted for promoting the convoy system that

grouped ships closely together as they were accom-

panied by small numbers of Navy escorts while cross-

ing the U-Boat infested Atlantic — saving countless

lives in both world wars.

Arleigh A. BurkeAfter serving as one of the

top destroyer squadron com-

manders of World War II,

Burke had an equally distin-

guished postwar career in

which he played a major role

in modernizing the Navy and

guiding its response to the

Cold War. During World War

II, he gained a reputation

for brilliance and innovation

while commanding Destroyer

Squadron 23. The squadron

fought in 22 separate actions

in a four-month period, sink-

ing nine enemy destroyers

and downing 30 airplanes. He

later served an unprecedented

three terms as the Navy’s

highest ranking officer —

Chief of Naval Operations —

to speed construction of nu-

clear-powered submarines

and initiating the Polaris

Ballistic Missile Program.

John McCloyMcCloy is one of the few

men in the nation’s history

to earn two Medals of Honor

for a rescue mission during

the Boxer Rebellion in which

he was wounded, and during

the 1914 Mexican Revolt

for intentionally exposing his

boat to draw enemy fire to

identify their positions for

retaliation by U.S. cruiser

gunfire. Shot in the thigh, he

remained on post 48 hours

until the brigade surgeon

sent him to a hospital. In

1919 he was awarded

the Navy Cross for engaging

in the “difficult and hazardous

duty” of sweeping mines

in the North Sea in the after-

math of World War I.

Doris MillerThe first black American

hero of World War II, Miller

became an inspiration to

generations of Americans for

his actions at Pearl Harbor on

Dec. 7, 1941. Serving aboard

the battleship West Virginia

as a mess attendant — the

only job rating open to blacks

at the time — Miller helped

rescue scores of shipmates

wounded or trapped in

wreckage. Never trained in

its operation, he manned

an unattended 50-caliber

machine gun to fire on

Japanese aircraft until ordered

to abandon the bridge as

fires raged out of control. He

was later awarded the Navy

Cross. Miller was killed in

action later that year along

with more than 600 ship-

mates when a torpedo sank

the ship during the invasion

of the Gilbert Islands.

AMERICAN PATRIOT 15

QUOTE OFTHE WEEK

“Sometimes people call me an idealist.Well, that is the way I know I am anAmerican. America is the only idealisticnation in the world.”

— WOODROW WILSON28TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1913-1921

16 AMERICAN PATRIOT

THIS WEEK INAMERICAN HISTORY

AMERICAN PATRIOT 17

1961.President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps,an organization that sends young American volunteers todeveloping countries to assist with healthcare, educationand other basic human needs.

PICTURED ABOVE: KENNEDY GREETING PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, 1961

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